I have to get this blog done before I leave for the USA on Tuesday.   Yes,  I am back to USA again.   This time it is for about 5 weeks.   I am starting off in Memphis TN for The American Folk Alliance.   This is the biggest folk music convention in the USA.   There will be about 2,000 folk singers and just about everyone in the folk music industry will be represented in some way.   I hope to make some really good contacts.   I am really looking forward to this as I will also be meeting some of my heroes.   Also we will be visiting Graceland,  which really excites me.   From there I will be going to the Carolinas where I will be meeting some friends and doing some business also.   I am also thinking of doing a detour on the way to see the Mardi Gras in New Orleans.   When I am finished there I fly to Houston,  where I join my great friend Johnsmith on a ten day concert tour of Texas.   I just cannot wait to meet John.   We will be also meeting many people there who have travelled with us in the past.   Some of my favourite people come from Texas.   When I finish there I fly to Savannah, Georgia where I spend St. Patrick’s week.   My old friend from home,  Billy Hogan is joining me there and we will be hanging out with his cousins,  who of course know how to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.   Billy and I then head to Florida,  where I spend the last 5/6 days of my trip.   Pretty exciting……………………….yea.

At this stage I must mention some very sad news that I got in January.   I learned of the death of Vic Hayman,  AR DEIS DEI GO RAIBH A AINM.  DILIS.  ( translated from Irish………..May his honourable name be at the right hand of God)   Vic was a giant in the world of folk music.  There are many folk singers who would not be on the road only for Vic.   Also many CDs’ would not have been made only for the generous intervention of Vic.   But for me Vic was an inspiration.   He travelled with us in 2005, (I think) and we went to see a wonderful ancient site called Beltony Stone Circle.   There was about a half mile climb up a dirt road to see it.   Now I have had back problems for about 15 years,  so I was feeling sorry for myself and did not try the walk,  but Vic,  complete with walking frame did it.   I thought to myself that I would never miss the Beltony experience again……………..and I did not.   My back has been improving steadily since and now I walk every day.   Last week I did a 10km, (6 miles) walk,  so I am feeling really good about it and I think of Vic very often during my walks.  It was a joy also to see how Reba,  his wife looking after him and I am so happy that Reba is joining us for our Johnsmith May tour.   I am really looking forward to seeing her again.   I in fact met Vic and Reba in Fort Lauderdale in December at a John McCutcheon concert,  which actually was Vic’s last one.

I have almost all arrangements made for the 2009 touring schedule.   Hotels have been booked and we have a really exciting Summer on the way.   We will be visiting Dublin for the first time and I am really looking forward to that.

That’s all for now.   I hope to write my next blog from the Good Ole US of A.